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Lancaster City Council bans synthetic drugs

March 06, 2012|By STEPHANIE MOJICA | smojica@amnews.com

LANCASTER — Sales of synthetic drugs, often sold as bath salts or incenses, are now illegal in Lancaster after action taken at Monday’s City Council meeting.

In February, Councilman Chris Davis drafted the proposed ordinance to ban the sale of substances designed to mimic the effects of illegal drugs such as marijuana, methamphetamine, opiates and PCP. The ordinance also bans any substance that contains chemicals such as salvia divinorum, methylone, 4-methoxymethcathinone and 3-fluoromethcathinone.

Anyone who uses or sells such substances could be convicted of a misdemeanor, which has penalties of up to a year in jail and/or a $500 fine. The ordinance does not ban legitimate bath salts that include Epsom salt or sea salt as the primary ingredient.

Council members voted 5-0 to accept the ordinance as written. Councilman Jesse Wagoner was not present due to illness and thus did not vote.

Davis, a teacher, said after the meeting that such ordinances are being passed in communities throughout the state and the General Assembly has been studying the issue.

“Governments need to get these bad drugs off the shelves for our kids, for everyone,” Davis said.

Water rates to increase

In other business, the council unanimously approved the second reading of an amendment to an existing ordinance that will increase water rates about 3 percent. Stacy Grow, distribution director for the water department, said outside the meeting that residents should see the increase on their next billing statements and that most people should pay about 29 cents more each month.

At Councilman Bret Baierlein’s suggestion, the council also unanimously approved three days of paid leave for any city employee whose skills enable him to help people affected by recent tornadoes in West Liberty. The Kentucky League of Cities especially needs people capable of operating heavy equipment, Baierlein said. Any paid leave must be approved by Mayor Brenda Powers.

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